Annabel Crookes, President, Australian Constructors Association
The Australian Constructors Association's (ACA) long-serving female Board directors have been recognised in the Top 100 Women in Construction 2026 list, highlighting the contribution women are making to the future of Australia's construction industry. The Directors were recognised alongside many other women from ACA member companies whose leadership is helping drive change across the sector.
ACA President Annabel Crookes said the recognition reflected the significant contribution women are making across all areas of the construction industry.
“The fact that the long-standing women on the ACA Board have been recognised is something we're incredibly proud of, not because of the positions they hold, but because of the impact they are having across our industry.”
“What stands out is the diversity of backgrounds represented around the ACA Board table. From CEOS to leadership across engineering, project management, legal, commercial, operational, people and project functions; women lead in all areas of this sector.”
“It shows there are many pathways to leadership in construction. Influence comes in many forms, and our industry is stronger when those different perspectives are represented,” Ms Crookes added.
ACA introduced a requirement in 2019 that member companies appointing two representatives to the ACA Board nominate at least one woman. The requirement was formally embedded in the ACA Constitution in 2025.
“When ACA introduced female representation requirements, the goal was to bring a broader range of perspectives into the conversations shaping the future of our industry,” said Ms Crookes.
“We've built a group of women who challenge each other's thinking, share experiences openly and are united by a genuine commitment to making construction a better industry.”
The growing presence of women in leadership roles comes as ACA members continue to implement the Culture Pledge, an industry commitment launched in 2023 to improve workplace culture, gender diversity and flexibility across the sector. Under the pledge, ACA members committed to transforming industry culture within five years and making construction a more attractive career for a broader range of people.
Recent ACA member research found 73 per cent of employees can work flexibly in their current roles, while ACA's It's Possible campaign has helped introduce hundreds of women to career opportunities in construction through site visits.